The Future of Work Needs Values: European Diversity Day 2026 Recognised Companies That Are Changing the Czech Labour Market for the Better.

The Future of Work Needs Values: European Diversity Day 2026 Awarded Companies That Are Changing the Czech Labour Market for the Better.

Prague, 29 May 2026

The international conference European Diversity Day 2026 took place in Fantova Hall at Prague Main Railway Station. It is organized annually by the alliance of responsible companies Business for Society as part of European Diversity Month.

The conference also included the ceremonial announcement of the results of the 2nd annual Diversity Charter Awards 2026, which award companies and personalities for their innovative contribution in the field of diversity, inclusion and a responsible approach in the labour market.

This year’s edition presented the theme “The Future of Work in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Values That Determine the Direction”. The programme focused on changes in the labour market under the influence of artificial intelligence and new technologies, as well as on the question of how to ensure that technological progress remains in line with responsibility, human rights and the values of an open democratic society.

“Technologies themselves do not determine whether the future of work will be better. This is decided by the values we put into their use. Artificial intelligence can be a huge opportunity if it serves people, strengthens equal opportunities and supports the responsible development of society,” said Pavel Štern, Director of Business for Society.

The opening expert section began with a video reminder of the legacy of Karel Čapek and his famous work R.U.R., in which, almost one hundred years ago, he warned against a world where technological progress becomes detached from human responsibility.

The following discussion panel, moderated by Pavlína Kalousová, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Asahi Europe & International and founder of the Diversity Charter in the Czech Republic, featured Zdeněk Vacek, Director of the Karel Čapek Memorial, Tomáš Mikolov, Czech scientist and co-founder of the startup BottleCap AI, and Filip Molčan, Chief Innovation Officer of M2C and founder of Good Sailors.

The conference further presented specific examples of the responsible use of artificial intelligence and modern technologies in corporate practice. Their experience was shared by Renáta Millerová, HR Director Central Eastern Europe of Thermo Fisher Scientific, and David Vochoč, Customer Renewal Executive for the MEE Region of SAP Czech Republic.

Results of the 2nd Annual Diversity Charter Awards 2026

The Diversity Charter Awards recognize companies that actively support and develop diversity and inclusion in their working environment and in the Czech labour market. Almost 40 companies entered their projects in this year’s edition – from large international companies to smaller and medium-sized Czech enterprises. The awards were granted by an expert jury composed of almost 30 personalities in five competition categories.

The Diversity Charter Awards 2026 were once again presented by important personalities: Irena Moozová, Deputy Director-General, DG JUST, European Commission, Monika Ladmanová, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, Petr Otáhal, Vice-President of the Association of Human Resources Professionals of the Czech Republic, H.E. Bettina Kirnbauer, Ambassador of Austria to the Czech Republic. Lucie Fuková, Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs in the Czech Republic, Eva Primus Kovandová, President of Business and Professional Women Czech Republic. The Diversity Charter Awards 2026 were presented in a total of 6 categories.

European Diversity Charter Award 2026 – Main Award

1. 1st place went to Philip Morris ČR for the project Equal Opportunities at Every Stage of Life. The expert jury appreciated the company’s systematic approach to supporting employees in various life situations and to creating an inclusive working environment.

2. 2nd place went to Pivovary Staropramen for the project Inclusive Benefits Beyond the Scope of Legislation

3. 3rd place went to Vodafone Czech Republic for the project Vodafone Pride: Systemic Support for LGBTQ+ People at Work and in Society

Special awards from the expert jury went to:

Česká spořitelna, together with Československá obchodní banka, Komerční banka, Raiffeisenbank and UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia for the project Diversity Benchmark of the Banking Sector, implemented under the umbrella of the Czech Banking Association.

DHL Supply Chain for the project Diversity as Part of a Shared DNA, supporting the employment and integration of disadvantaged groups in the labour market.

 
Diversity Charter Award – Company Friendly Towards Informal Carers

A significant novelty of this year’s edition was the category highlighting the growing importance of companies’ support for their employees caring for their loved ones.

1. 1st place went to MONETA Money Bank.

Other companies awarded as friendly towards informal carers were the Regional Authority of the Central Bohemian Region, ČEZ, Klepierre Management Czech Republic, SAP Czech Republic and Vodafone Czech Republic.

The category was announced in the form of the first “national rating” with the aim of motivating other employers through positive examples to systematically support “their” informal caring employees.

Diversity Charter Award – Company Open to All Generations

The category awarded companies that actively support intergenerational cooperation in the workplace and create a welcoming environment for employees in various life stages.

1. 1st place went to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech for the project Comprehensive Care for the Employee Life Cycle

2. 2nd place went to Firemní školky with the project Connecting Generations as the Basis of an Inclusive Corporate Culture

3. 3rd place went to Generali Česká pojišťovna for the project Longevity 365

Special awards from the jury went to:

• Orkla Food Česko a Slovensko, a.s.  for the project “Your Satisfaction, Our Success” and for its comprehensive approach to the sustainability of all generations in the environment of a large food company

• innogy Česká republika for the project Diversity at Innogy and for supporting intergenerational dialogue in the environment of a large energy company

•  Vodafone Czech Republic a. s. for the project We Support Colleagues Across Life Stages and Generations and for the long-term and extensive development of diversity and inclusion in the corporate culture

Diversity Charter Award – ROMA Friendly Company

The category awarded companies and organizations that purposefully and over the long term support the integration of Roma people into the labour market and Czech society.

The best-rated project was the project of Klepierre Management Czech Republic ROMA in the Operation of Shopping Centres.

The award also went to Albatros Media for the project Equal Opportunities in Education, which, through the Albatros Foundation, supports scholarship programmes for Roma female and male students.

Among the awardees was also Vodafone Czech Republic for the project REACH – Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage, focused on supporting young Roma people.

Diversity Charter Award – Company Friendly Towards Women

The category awarded companies supporting equal opportunities for women, their professional development and the reconciliation of work and personal life.

1. 1st place went to Vodafone Czech Republic for the project Women in RED.

2. 2nd place went to SAP Czech Republic with the project Women’s Development Programme: Be EPIC.

3. 3rd place went to Price f(x) for the project Zero Differences, a Thousand Opportunities.
   

The jury’s special award went to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic for the project Return with Respect, focused on supporting parents on maternity and parental leave in a large manufacturing company.

A special thanks from the jury went to Makro Cash & Carry ČR for the project WoW – Women of Wholesale and for its long-term support for the development of women through cooperation between the company’s management and first-line management.

Voice of Diversity – Business for Society Award

This year’s edition opened a new tradition with the announcement of the Voice of Diversity – Business for Society Award, intended for personalities, companies and organizations with an extraordinary contribution to diversity, inclusion and responsible business not only in the Czech Republic. The first holders of the award were:

European Diversity Day 2026, including the Diversity Charter Awards 2026, took place under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry for Regional Development, Government Commissioner for Human Rights Taťána Malá, and Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková. Partnership was provided by the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, ČEZ Group and IVECO Czech Republic, a.s.

More information about the conference and the award results can be found on the websites www.diverzita.cz, www.byznysprospolecnost.cz  or on social media. We will bring further information in extensive follow-up communication next week.

Media contact:

Iveta Markelová
markelova@byznysprospolecnost.cz
Business for Society
V Tůních 11, 120 00 Prague 2

www.byznysprospolecnost.cz
www.diverzita.cz

Business for Society is the largest alliance of companies promoting a responsible and sustainable approach to business in our country. Thanks to our involvement in international structures, we follow new trends in sustainability, localize international standards and open up new topics that companies in the Czech Republic should be interested in. We are the National Partner Organization of CSR Europe, the European platform for responsible business. Thanks to our role as the national coordinator of the European Diversity Charter, we cooperate with EU Member States and the European Commission on the topic of developing diversity and inclusion in the labour market and in society.

We bring together major companies that are among the leaders in sustainability and responsibility. We help companies integrate responsibility and sustainability into the core of their business. We open discussions with stakeholders and support the exchange of good practice and experience.